Masters in Counselling (MA)

1 year full-time, 2-4 years part-time

Important announcement:

Prospective applicants for the MA Counselling (applied route) 2012-13 who ultimately intend to aim for UK counsellor accreditation are advised to contact the course leader by e-mail (Max.Biddulph@nottingham.ac.uk) for an update with regard to the implications of the recent announcement made by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) regarding procedures and routes for future accreditation.

The MA in Counselling has a humanistic orientation and is primarily experiential. Individuals learn to develop the capacity for self reflection and self awareness - vital for professional counsellors who need to be aware of their own issues and particularly the ways in which their values, prejudices and assumptions may exert power over the client rather than facilitating growth and healing.

The course is taught in a safe and secure teaching and learning environment. Its participatory nature is designed to develop not only awareness of the self but understanding of the self in relationship with others. The theory is taught in context, with issues arising in the 'here and now' within the group.

The Programme

Full-time - one year - starting in September - Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Part-time - two to four years - Tuesdays 1.30 - 5.30 pm in the 2012/13 academic year
PG Diploma and Certificate exit points
Course can provide three units towards BACP accreditation
Practice route or Applied route options

Entry Requirements

a degree OR an approved professional qualification equivalent to a first degree (e.g. MA Social Work or Diploma in Counselling)

counselling skills training
experience of supervised counselling practice or experience gained in a helping profession eg pastoral care role, nursing, probation, youth work, social work etc
other training eg Childline, Samaritans

Applicants whose first language is not English must, as a minimum, fulfill one of the following conditions:

IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element)
TOEFL 87 (no less than 21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking)

English for Academic Purposes at C.E.L.E.

On course Requirements

Students are expected to have a minimum of 40 hours of personal counselling over the life of the course. Previous experience of therapy will not be counted towards this.